76ers get even stronger at small forward

July 20, 2012|Reuters

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NBA Team Report - Philadelphia 76ers - GETTING INSIDE

The 76ers, already seemingly loaded at small forward, are even stronger at the position. They seem to be a bit short at power forward, though team president Rod Thorn said they're "probably not" going to make a trade for another big man after using the amnesty clause on veteran "four" Elton Brand.

The Sixers traded 2006 second-round pick Edin Bavcic, who is still playing professionally in Europe, for small forward Dorell Wright. Wright will make $4.1 in 2012-13, which is the final year of his contract.

They also signed shooting guard Nick Young, an unrestricted free agent, to a one-year deal for $6 million. Young is essentially replacing the offense of sixth man Lou Williams, who the Sixers allowed to leave via free agency after Williams exercised a player option to void the final season of his deal (worth $6.4 million).

With the addition of Maurice Harkless via the draft, the Sixers have Andre Iguodala, Wright and Harkless as natural small forwards. Evan Turner and Nick Young are also capable of playing that position.

If the Sixers don't acquire another power forward, they could end up starting Lavoy Allen opposite center Spencer Hawes. The Sixers re-signed both free agents, giving Allen $6 million for two years and Hawes $13 million over the next two seasons.

Other potential candidates would be second-year pro Nikola Vucevic and perhaps Moultrie. Coach Doug Collins prefers the undersized Thaddeus Young coming off the bench.

Thorn and company appear to be trying to create as much cap space as possible in 2013, when the free agent class is expected to be much better and deeper.

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NBA Team Report - Philadelphia 76ers - NOTES, QUOTES

--C Kwame Brown officially signed with the 76ers for a two-year deal reported to be worth $6 million.

It continues busy movement along Philadelphia's front court, with Spencer Hawes re-signed and Darryl Watkins waived after being acquired in a trade.

Brown made $6.75 million as a member of the Warriors last season. He played in just nine games before he tore his pectoralis major -- the largest muscle in the chest which attaches to the shoulder -- and had surgery in January.

Golden State was his sixth NBA team since 2005 when he was drafted No. 1 by the Washington Wizards out of Glynn Academy in South Carolina.

Brown was the first high school player to be drafted first overall in the NBA draft.

--C Darryl Watkins was waived by the 76ers. The two-year veteran was acquired in the recent three-team deal that brought Dorell Wright to Philadelphia.

Watkins has averaged 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game while spending time with Sacramento and New Orleans the past two seasons.

--C Spencer Hawes officially re-signed with the 76ers on July 13. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is reportedly worth $13 million over two years.

In 118 games since being acquired from Sacramento in 2010, Hawes has averaged 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.01 blocks in 22.4 minutes per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the floor.

The fifth-year veteran out of the University of Washington had eight double-doubles last season.

Philadelphia also added veteran C Kwame Brown the same day.

--The Sixers planned on adding a veteran backup point guard to their roster. They were believed to be looking at candidates willing to play for the minimum. Although Turner and Andre Iguodala, who made the 12-man U.S. Olympic Team as a reserve forward, can also handle the ball, Jrue Holiday is the only true point on the team.

--The Sixers were plagued by injuries at the Orlando Pro Summer League. F/C Arnett Moultrie, the team's second first-round pick, didn't play at all due to a sprained ankle he suffered during a pre-draft workout. F Maurice Harkless, the No. 15 overall selection, had a strained hip flexor, while F/C Nikola Vucevic was also limited by a sprained ankle.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Just compete for that (starting) four spot, compete for more minutes and try to help my team more than I did last season." -- F/C Lavoy Allen, on his goals for the 2012-13 season.

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NBA Team Report - Philadelphia 76ers - ROSTER REPORT

PLAYER NOTES:

--G Lou Williams, after signing a multiyear contract with the Hawks, said he's "happy to be a part of a team that's similar to the Sixers -- young, athletic and hard-working." The Sixers had decided not to bring him back on July 6, prompting him to tweet: "Philly, I appreciate you all. Unfortunately, I will not be coming back. As an organization they decided to move in a different direction." The Sixers signed G Nick Young to replace Williams' scoring off the bench.